Walker wants to cut 4,000 state jobs

Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Walker says, if elected, he would permanently eliminate 4,000 state jobs in his first budget, effective immediately. Right now, about 4,000 positions are already temporarily vacant.

Walker says, “If we can live this long without 4,000 state employees we can live without them forever. The only exceptions to that are the public safety positions I mentioned.” That includes state patrol officers, public defenders, corrections officers and district attorneys.

Walker says those cuts would save taxpayers about $284-million a year. Currently, since the vacancies are not permanent, the savings from the open positions cannot be figured into the budget plan.

Also, cash-strapped state agencies will no longer be able to shift money saved from job vacancies for other purposes.

Walker’s primary opponent Mark Neumann says as a businessman and former math teacher, he has a tough time understanding how eliminating positions that are already unfilled can save taxpayers millions of dollars. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Barrett agrees, calling Walker’s plan a gimmick.